Next Gen Trucking Talk with Lindsey Trent

Lindsey Trent
Next Gen Trucking Talk with Lindsey Trent

The Next Gen Trucking Association is a membership-based advocacy group solely dedicated to advancing the trucking industry as a career choice for the next generation through nationwide education and awareness initiatives. As a leading national nonprofit trade association, Next Gen Trucking Association (NGT) inspires, educates, and provides resources for young people and schools and promotes opportunities within the trucking industry. This podcast is all about steering the next generation towards careers in trucking. Who is doing it, how, and best practices. For more information contact Lindsey Trent at info@nextgentrucking.org.

  1. JUL 3

    Miles of Opportunity: Chris Jones on Training the Next Generation of Drivers at Gateway Technical College

    In this inspiring episode of Next Gen Talks, Lindsey Trent interviews Chris Jones, a commercial driving instructor at Gateway Technical College. Chris shares his powerful journey from facing homelessness to building a successful trucking business and now training the next generation of drivers. He discusses Gateway’s nine-week CDL program, the importance of patience and empathy in teaching, and why reaching young people—especially high schoolers—is vital to the industry's future. With over a million miles on the road and experience across all 48 states, Chris brings practical wisdom, deep passion, and a commitment to shaping safe, skilled drivers in a changing transportation landscape. https://www.gtc.edu/programs-study jonesg@gtc.edu Thank you to our Sponsors!!!! https://kochtrucking.com/business-lines/ https://loupaving.com/ https://transportation.trimble.com/ https://www.tenstreet.com/ https://www.ushertransport.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    41 min
  2. JUN 12

    Breaking Barriers and Building the Future of Trucking with Melanie Simard from ISAAC Instruments

    In this episode, Lindsey Trent sits down with Melanie Simard, Vice President of Safety Compliance at ISAAC Instruments, to explore her inspiring and unconventional journey through the trucking industry. From starting in logistics to driving heavy loads across tough routes, Melanie broke barriers in a male-dominated field and steadily transitioned into leadership roles focused on safety and technology. She shares insights into the evolution of the industry, the role of user-friendly tech like ELDs, and the importance of building a supportive, coaching-driven culture for the next generation of drivers. Tune in for a conversation about innovation, inclusion, and what it takes to lead transformation in trucking—from behind the wheel to the executive table. https://www.isaacinstruments.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-simard-54589584/ Thank you to our Sponsors!!! https://www.averittcareers.com/ https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/supply-chain.html https://fusionnow.io/ https://www.gfs.com/en-us https://www.kkwtrucks.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    33 min
  3. MAY 22

    Building the Future of Trucking: Tenstreet’s Tools and Talent Pipeline with Christy Choice

    In the latest episode featuring Christy Choice from Tenstreet, Christy shared her journey from healthcare software to the trucking industry, highlighting her passion for the field's regulation and continuous learning opportunities. She discussed Tenstreet's comprehensive fleet management solutions that support the entire driver lifecycle, along with exciting new features introduced at their annual user conference. Christy also emphasized Tenstreet's commitment to industry growth through initiatives like the Truck School Network and the Driver Pulse app, which facilitate connections between schools and prospective drivers. Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of promoting trucking careers to younger generations, advocating for clear career paths and resources that can attract Gen Z talent to the industry. Schools are encouraged to contact Christy for access to Tenstreet's free dashboard, while young individuals exploring trucking careers should connect with the Next Generation in Trucking for valuable insights and opportunities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-choice-ab608249/ christy.choice@tenstreet.com https://www.tenstreet.com/ Thank you to our Sponsors!!!!! https://www.act1trucking.org/members https://www.pfgc.com/ https://nationalapprenticeship.org/ https://www.longhaultrucking.com/ https://www.lytx.com/ https://www.odfl.com/ https://www.republicservices.com https://drive4roehl.com https://www.ryder.com/en-us https://sambasafety.com/ https://truckparkingclub.com/ https://www.uti.edu/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    27 min
  4. MAY 1

    Defending the Drivers: Inside 35 Years of Legal Support with Driver’s Legal Plan

    In this episode of NGT Talks, host Lindsey Trent engages with Brad Klepper and Marilyn Surber  from Driver's Legal Plan, who share insights into their 35-year history as a national law firm dedicated to defending CDL drivers and motor carriers. The discussion covers the company's affordable legal services, wherein drivers pay a flat fee of $100 per case for traffic violations, with a 95% success rate without requiring their presence in court. They highlight the importance of maintaining a clean motor vehicle record (MVR) for employability and clarify common legal misconceptions, such as the mistaken belief that paying a ticket erases it from one’s record. The conversation also emphasizes Driver's Legal Plan's commitment to driver education by collaborating with trucking schools and sponsoring young leadership programs. For drivers and carriers interested in legal assistance, resources are available through their website or by phone. https://www.driverslegalplan.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-surber/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-klepper-20ba5322/ Thank you to our Sponsors!!! https://www.benekeith.com/ https://www.beyondtrucks.com/ https://www.christensontrans.com/ https://www.cleanharbors.com/ https://www.dottransportation.com/ https://www.driverslegalplan.com/ https://www.fastenal.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    40 min
  5. APR 17

    The Transport Crisis: Inside the Global Driver Shortage with Natalia Corchado from the IRU

    In this episode, Lindsey talks with Natalia Corchado from the International Road Transport Union (IRU), focusing on the critical issues facing the road transport sector. Natalia highlighted IRU’s role in advocating for trucking, bus, coach, and taxi industries, and discussed the organization’s efforts to tackle decarbonization, driver shortages, and digitalization amidst a challenging economic landscape. A significant portion of the meeting addressed a global study on driver shortages, revealing that 3.6 million truck driver jobs remained unfilled in 2024 due to an aging workforce and insufficient younger replacements. Discussion included effective driver training programs, working conditions, and retention strategies that companies are implementing to attract and retain drivers. The conversation wrapped up with a look toward the future, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions in addressing labor challenges and improving industry image, while also announcing that the study findings would be available on IRU's website in mid-March. https://www.iru.org/ natalia.corchado.iru.org Thank you to our Sponsors!!!! https://kochtrucking.com/business-lines/ https://loupaving.com/ https://www.tenstreet.com/ https://transfrinc.com/ https://transportation.trimble.com/ https://www.ushertransport.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    55 min
  6. MAR 6

    Navigating the Moving Industry: Insights from Nisrine Masri of Movers Dispatch

    In this episode, Lindsey talks with Nisrine Masri with Movers Dispatch.  Nisrine, a seasoned professional in the moving and storage industry, shares insights from her two-decade career, highlighting her journey from sales to owning her own moving company for 22 years. The discussion focused on the industry's high-stress nature for clients and the specific skill sets required for drivers, along with the challenges of recruiting younger workers due to the physically demanding aspects of the job. Nisrine introduced her B2B platform, Movers Dispatch Board, launched two years ago to assist moving companies in finding loads for backhauls, with over 800 companies onboarded and 600+ active subscribers. The conversation also addressed the current challenges of the industry, including economic factors like interest rates and inflation affecting consumer decisions, as well as the need for technological improvements. Nisrine outlined her future vision for expanding the Movers Dispatch Board, particularly into the Canadian market, while planning for early retirement but continuing her involvement in projects. Action items included attending industry conferences to further enhance her business connections. https://moversdispatchboard.com/ Thank you to our Sponors!!! https://www.averittcareers.com/ https://fusionnow.io/ https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/supply-chain.html https://www.kkwtrucks.com/ https://www.gfs.com/en-us The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    32 min
  7. FEB 19

    Building Relationships and Bridging Gaps: A Gen Z Take on Trucking with Hailey from Roehl

    In this episode, Lindsey talks with Hailey, a Gen Z representative from Roehl Logistics,  about her insights and experiences within the trucking industry, emphasizing her unique background and daily responsibilities including customer relations and logistics management. Throughout the conversation, she expressed gratitude to sponsors and highlighted the intricate nature of supply chain logistics, viewing it as a complex "puzzle." Haley discussed the importance of building relationships with drivers and the challenges she faces as a younger professional in a traditionally experienced field, underscoring the eagerness from both industry veterans and younger entrants towards collaboration and growth. She advocated for transparent communication within companies to attract and retain Gen Z talent, while also noting the advantages of technology in modern logistics. https://drive4roehl.com/home-weekly-drivers?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&r=google_search_home_weekly&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA5Ka9BhB5EiwA1ZVtvA3PRTkzJV5Adzi8qeEhOaJnCDSStWzYEGrVE8slOdZY_MIyQCCKrBoCla4QAvD_BwE https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailey-roehl-b1a261203/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    24 min
  8. FEB 5

    Truckin' Through Downtime: Legal Insights on Claims, Insurance, and Protecting Your Income

    In this episode, Lindsey interviews Kelsea, a legal expert specializing in downtime claims for trucking companies. Kelsea shares her journey into trucking industry law and highlights the importance of downtime claims, which help recover lost income when trucks are out of service, particularly for smaller fleets or those with specialized equipment. The discussion covers essential tips for filing insurance claims, such as utilizing dash cams, documenting incident scenes, and gathering witness statements. Kelsea explains the claim process, timeframes for payouts, and how her firm operates on a contingency fee basis, affirming that downtime claims are a legal right in most states. The episode concludes with actionable recommendations for trucking companies, including installing dash cams and documenting all efforts to mitigate damages, as well as providing resources for further assistance through downtimeclaims.com and a dedicated consultation hotline. https://www.downtimeclaims.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Read this article https://nextgentrucking.org/blog/2025/downtime-the-hidden-obstacle-facing-new-age-truckers/ Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Visit our website: www.nextgentruckers.com Contact us at: info@nextgentruckers.com Follow us on socials here: Facebook Instagram Youtube LinkedIn TikTok

    31 min

About

The Next Gen Trucking Association is a membership-based advocacy group solely dedicated to advancing the trucking industry as a career choice for the next generation through nationwide education and awareness initiatives. As a leading national nonprofit trade association, Next Gen Trucking Association (NGT) inspires, educates, and provides resources for young people and schools and promotes opportunities within the trucking industry. This podcast is all about steering the next generation towards careers in trucking. Who is doing it, how, and best practices. For more information contact Lindsey Trent at info@nextgentrucking.org.

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